Final answer:
The line refers to a character in American Folklore who is frequently irritable and difficult to deal with.
Step-by-step explanation:
The line 'Mrs. Crockett was always rantankerous' refers to a character in American Folklore who is frequently irritable, difficult to deal with, and often complains. The word 'rantankerous' is a colloquial term used to describe someone who is constantly grumpy or cantankerous. In the context of the passage, it suggests that Mrs. Crockett was often in a bad mood and took out her frustrations on others.